Thursday of week 33 in Ordinary Time
Reading: 1 Maccabees 2:15-29
The story in 1 Maccabees reminds us that fidelity to the Lord often requires courage, clarity, and decisive choices. When the king’s officials demanded that Mattathias and his family abandon their faith and conform to the imposed pagan practices, he refused, not out of stubbornness, but out of deep loyalty to the covenant. His faithfulness was not theoretical; it took the shape of action, sacrifice, and a willingness to stand apart from the majority. In a world where compromise can seem easier and conformity more comfortable, this passage challenges us to examine the hidden places where we might be silently giving in. Fidelity to the Lord is not simply saying “yes” to God once, it is a daily commitment to live according to His truth, even when it costs us convenience, reputation, or acceptance. God does not ask for perfection but for steadfast hearts that choose Him above all else. Faithfulness is the soil in which holiness grows. Let’s reflect: Am I willing to remain faithful to the Lord even when it demands difficult choices, or do I sometimes compromise my convictions for the sake of ease or approval?
Don Giorgio